collaboration
Seesaw vs Flipgrid
I sometimes wonder if I even need Flipgrid. Honestly, I feel like Seesaw can do everything Flipgrid can do better. Almost.
collaboration
¡Llame Ya! Infomercial Listening Activity
Infomercials have sparked a new creativity and confidence in my students in Spanish I this semester! ¡Llame ya! is officially part of everyone’s vocabulary after some class notes, some guided listening with an authentic infomercial, and then a little independent breakdown of some more authentic infomercials. So first, I listened to Read more…
advocacy
Other Teachers Need Us Too
I wasn’t laughing at her conjugation. One student in the audience was giving the students presenting a hard time, asking why anyone would want to buy their product if it was so cheap and easy to make. But my history teacher amiga came to their rescue–in Spanish! History teacher helping Read more…
collaboration
Target Language Reset Button
YOU are a MASTER teacher. You are a better teacher than I am, better than I ever will be–better than ANYONE–at least once a month. Picture that day. Or that lesson. Hey, maybe you even had a streak going at one point. I think my record is two. It was halfway Read more…
authentic texts
IPA: How to Win a Talent Show
An IPA can be an important part of the planning process for group PBL projects. Take for example our mission to keep our school’s winning streak going at a nearby language competition. Students need to stop and think about what it takes to win, what steps they need to plan Read more…
authentic texts
Group Pinterest Homework and Lifelong Learning
Was there lifelong learning before Pinterest? Yes, of course, there was lifelong learning since Time Immemorial. But it took a special kind of dedication and commitment before pinning, didn’t it? A certain amount of patience for poring over possibly relevant print materials, a certain mobility to even get to a library. Now Read more…
affective filter
Classcraft in Spanish: Character powers and team planning
“I honestly believe that if you incorporate Class Craft from the beginning and change the way portfolios work, Spanish will be everyone’s favorite class.” I generally take what the end-of-course surveys with a grain of salt, but even if Spanish won’t be EVERYONE’S favorite class, that’s still a pretty Read more…
ACTFL
Alphabet Soup Units, part 2: Storytime (PBL + TPRS + IPA)
Storytime is the second step in my Alphabet Soup unit model, which combines Project-Based Learning (PBL), Target Language instruction (TL), Teaching Proficiency through Reading and Storytelling (TPRS), Integrated Performance Asessments (IPA), ACTFL Assessment of Performance toward Proficiency in Languages (AAPPL), and Teaching Like a Pirate (TLAP).This process gives my units a clearer Read more…
classroom management
Project Conferences: True TL Collaboration
Groups of 10-15 students had positive, productive conversations before break, conversations lasting fifteen minutes or more in the target language. What’s more is the conversations affirmed good feelings among collaborators and kept the conversation positive and the energy controlled and calm. I had been out sick most of the week before Read more…
collaboration
Independent PBL Time by Mode
I’m not really happy with the jigsaw model for Project-Based Learning that I instituted for our festival project and school supply drive last yer. It did not really fit those kiddos–who are now in my Spanish II classes. In retrospect, I don’t think it really fit the projects, either. So instead, I think Read more…